Do you enjoy a drink now and then? Many of us do, often when socializing with friends and family. Drinking can be beneficial or harmful, depending on your age and health status, and, of course, how much you drink.

Do you think you may drink too much at times? Do you think “everyone” drinks a lot? See below for results from a nationwide survey of 43,000 adults by the National Institutes of Health on alcohol use and its consequences.

For anyone who drinks, Rethinking Drinking offers valuable, research-based information. The first part, How much is too much?, answers these questions and more:

• What’s “low-risk” drinking versus “at-risk” or “heavy” drinking?
• Why is being able to “hold your liquor” a concern?
• What are signs that drinking is causing harm?

Many heavy drinkers do not have alcohol-related problems yet and can reduce their risk of harm by cutting back. For the nearly 18 million Americans who have alcoholism or related problems, however, it’s safest to quit.

The second part of this booklet, Thinking about a change?, offers tips, tools, and resources for people who choose to cut down or quit. Success is likely for those who persist in their efforts. Even for those with alcoholism, studies show that most do recover, often without professional treatment.

What do you think about taking a look at your drinking habits and how they may affect your health? Rethinking Drinking can help you get started.

Visit Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health Order Page

Download Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health in PDF format, or you can order free printed copies of Rethinking Drinking.

Research-based information from the National Institutes of Health
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Visit Rethinking Drinking Website

The Rethinking Drinking Web site and booklet have been produced by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIAAA is the lead U.S. agency supporting research on the causes, consequences, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems. The content of Rethinking Drinking  draws largely from the results of major NIAAA population studies and clinical trials.

The main target audience for Rethinking Drinking is the 3 in 10 U.S. adults who drink more than the low-risk limits. Of these drinkers, about 1 in 4 already has alcoholism or alcohol abuse, and the rest are at greater risk for these and other health problems.

Many of these drinkers may be unaware that their drinking habits are putting them at risk for alcohol-related problems. Some may already have symptoms of an alcohol use disorder without recognizing them. Others may know that their drinking is causing problems, but don't know where to turn for help in cutting back or quitting. Rethinking Drinking provides evidence-based information for all of these people, along with support for making a change. 

RESOURCES
Professional help
Your regular doctor.
Primary care and mental health practitioners can provide effective alcoholism treatment by combining new medications with brief counseling visits. See “Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much” at www.niaaa.nih.gov/guide or call 301–443–3860.

Specialists in alcoholism.
For specialty addiction treatment options, contact your doctor, health insurance plan, local health department, or employee assistance program. Other resources include

Medical and non-medical addiction specialists
American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
www.aaap.org
401–524–3076

American Psychological Association
1–800–964–2000 (ask for your state’s referral number to find psychologists with addiction specialties)

American Society of Addiction Medicine
301–656–3920 (ask for the phone number of your state’s chapter)

NAADAC Substance Abuse Professionals
www.naadac.org
1–800–548–0497

National Association of Social Workers
www.helpstartshere.org
(search for social workers with addiction specialties)

Treatment facilities
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov 1–800–662–HELP

Mutual-help groups
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) www.aa.org
212–870–3400 or check your local phone directory under “Alcoholism”

Moderation Management www.moderation.org
212–871–0974

Secular Organizations for Sobriety www.secularsobriety.org
323–666–4295

SMART Recovery www.smartrecovery.org
440–951–5357

Women for Sobriety www.womenforsobriety.org
215–536–8026

Groups for family and friends
Al-Anon/Alateen www.al-anon.alateen.org
1–888–425–2666 for meetings

Adult Children of Alcoholics www.adultchildren.org
310–534–1815

Information resources
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism www.niaaa.nih.gov
301–443–3860

National Institute on Drug Abuse www.nida.nih.gov
301–443–1124

National Institute of Mental Health www.nimh.nih.gov
1–866–615–6464

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information www.ncadi.samhsa.gov
1–800–729–6686

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